WORCESTER — For his "War Requiem," commissioned for the reconsecration of Coventry Cathedral in Coventry, England, in 1962, composer Benjamin Britten incorporated words from the Latin Mass for the Dead with eight poems by World War I poet Wilfred Owen, who was killed in action exactly one week before the war's end.

On the front page of Britten's score were Owen's words "My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity." Acclaim for "War Requiem" was immediate, as Britten's choral and orchestral masterpiece combined large musical forces with intimate vocal expression. Putting on the work, however, was a huge undertaking, and that remains the case for any new performance.

After a couple of years of planning, five Central Massachusetts choruses have been rehearsing separately and together since the spring for a performance of "War Requiem" on Sunday that will see more than 250 singers in Mechanics Hall as well as a full orchestra and a chamber orchestra.

"We're just going to be awash with the sounds," said Angela Knapton, president of the Worcester Chorus and a soprano who will be one of the singers on Sunday. "You'll hear it but feel it in your bones at the same time. It's going to be pretty epic."

The performance is being presented by Music Worcester Inc. "This is a once in a lifetime and once in a career event," said Adrien C. Finlay, executive director of Music Worcester.

The participating choruses are the Worcester Chorus (artistic director Christopher Shepard) under the auspices of Music Worcester, the Master Singers of Worcester (artistic director Edward Tyler), the Salisbury Singers (music director Michelle Graveline), the Sounds of Stow (artistic director Barbara Jones) and the Worcester Children's Chorus (artistic director Pamela Mindell). The Festival Orchestra, which has performed at Music Worcester concerts such as the annual performance of Handel's "Messiah," will form the main orchestra and chamber orchestra.

John Daly Goodwin, who was director of the New York Choral Society for 25 years before retiring, has been brought in as the artistic director/guest conductor for the project. He's been traveling back and forth between New York and Worcester for meetings and rehearsals. A combined rehearsal held at the Bancroft School last Saturday was scheduled to be followed by others this week as the day of the performance nears. Goodwin has been involved with performances of "War Requiem" with ensembles in Mexico, but never with the New York Choral Society. "It was on the wish list for the 25 years but we just couldn't muster the finances. It's such a big undertaking," Goodwin said.

"I just love that we've created this new chorale ensemble," he said of the singers for Sunday. "To work with them and a choral composition that I would put on my top 10 of any composition - it's a dream come true."

Wilfred Owen's poetry vividly details the horrors of trench warfare. Back in England, his parents found about his death at the age of 25 as the bells were ringing on Nov. 11, 1918, celebrating victory. The old 14th-century Coventry Cathedral had also been a victim of war, destroyed by Nazi bombers in 1940. With a bright, modernistic design by Sir Basil Spence and a huge tapestry, the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral and the performance of "War Requiem" by Britten (1913-1976), at the time one of England's greatest living composers, were highly anticipated events 55 years ago that seemed to symbolize reconciliation and peace.

Knapton said that "War Requiem" is indeed a "very moving" work. Sunday's performance "is a good time to have it, at around Veterans Day," she said.

"It's very strongly anti-war," Goodwin said of the composition. "Britten himself was a pacifist."

Britten's use of the Latin Mass and Owen's poetry makes for "a remarkable combination," he said. "It was immediately successful from the very beginning. I think it belongs on a short list of the greatest works written in the 20th century. In my opinion this is his (Britten's) greatest piece. It's such a brilliant conception musically. While it's complex, it is accessible. It's challenging but makes sense musically. As you become more comfortable with the score, it becomes easier as you go along."

There are three distinct performing ensembles making up the whole work and Sunday's performance, Goodwin said.

Goodwin will conduct the large orchestra, large adult chorus and soprano soloist Esther Heideman singing the Latin Mass. Christopher Shepard will conduct the chamber orchestra and tenor soloist Frank Kelly and baritone soloist Craig Irvin singing Owen's poetry. Situated at the rear balcony with an accompanying organist will be the Worcester Children's Chorus conducted by Pamela Mindell.

There are 48 singers ages 12 to 18 from WCC who will be part of the performance, Mindell said. "The children's voices represent purity and innocence, completely disconnected/unaware of the horrors of war and all that is happening on the stage. I think the effect of having them in the rear of the balcony will add to the ethereal nature of their sound, floating high above everything else," she said.

Goodwin said that with the three components "there has to be a coordination of tempo." Then at the end of the piece everyone comes together. "But it's not in a big, loud moment. It's a soft, sustained moment."

Finlay said the "War Requiem" project is the "culmination of over two years of brainstorming and collaborative planning with all the participating ensembles and their respective directors. Two key ideas brought this collaboration to fruition – first, that the individual ensemble directors are incredibly collegial and encouraging of one another, and second, that any large-scale partnership had to focus on a work that no individual ensemble could dream of mounting on their own."

Meanwhile, Goodwin and Shepard have been friends for a long time. Goodwin moved to Mexico for a while (he has since returned to New York) and is the founder of the Coro Xopankuicati chrous. In 2013 about 40 singers from the Worcester Chorus joined 40 from the Coro in Mexico City for two performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.

Last year, Coro Xopankuicatl came to Worcester for a performance in Mechanics Hall with the Worcester Chorus and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. While Goodwin was here, Finlay talked to him about possibly taking on the "War Requiem" project.

"I jumped all over it. I thought it was a great idea," Goodwin said.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Music Worcester and the choruses of Central Massachusetts. We're very fortunate that all five ensembles all have incredibly gifted music directors," Goodwin said.

As for the setting of Mechanics Hall, "it's very, very beautiful. I like the acoustics very much. It's well-suited to this performance," he said.

"Rehearsals have been going well," said Mindell. "While the children only sing for a short time throughout the piece, they do have a significant role ... I am thrilled to be a part of the project, as it is a profoundly moving and important piece in the choral-orchestral repertoire - one of my favorites."

Michelle Graveline said, "We can feel feel the work coming together under his (Goodwin's) direction."

The Salisbury Singers has 55 singers (out of its roster of about 80) participating, and the "War Requiem" is "probably one of the most, if not the most, challenging pieces the Salisbury Singers has ever tackled," Graveline said.

"Benjamin Britten reflects the angst and horror of war in the dissonant harmonies and difficult, far-reaching vocal lines. That being said, there are many beautiful moments, and it’s clear that this will not just be a musical performance but an overwhelming emotional experience," she said.

Contact Richard Duckett at richard.duckett@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @TGRDuckett.

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